First Song

Anthem of Infinity Series, Book 1

By: Blaise Corvin, Outspan Foster, Blaise Corvin - foreword

Narrated by: Ramon De Ocampo

Length: 12 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's Summary

It has been two years since the Shift - when most technology stopped working, and the laws of physics changed. Humanity has been brought to its knees. Like other survivors, Noah Henson has heard rumors of the Aelves. Among other guesses, predatory aliens seem as good as any other theory for what caused the Shift.   

But for Noah, everything else takes second place to survival, sometimes even self-respect... or any sort of decency. Lawless, post-apocalypse America had forced Noah to make many difficult decisions, and he has never seemed to choose correctly. However, despite hating himself, he doesn't have the strength or the courage to change.   

He will get a lucky break in a big way, through a mysterious orb with otherworldly power.  

In time, perhaps Noah will find another path. And if he does die during the Shift, maybe it won't be the end of his story. Sometimes, another chance can be an opportunity for redemption.

©2018 Blaise Corvin (P)2019 Tantor

I was wrong

I’ve been listening to this genre of books for about 4 years and it has contributed to making my trucking career very enjoyable. My first one was luck stat strategy and I was hooked ever since.
For the first three hours of this book I was seriously teetering on returning it. It just felt like a typical post apocalyptic story we’ve all read over and over. I hate doing that so you can imagine I just kept on saying “ just a little bit more”. Well it paid off and I was exposed to a book that was extremely enjoyable and fresh. For anyone who got this book and is having doubts all I can say is the beginning has a purpose. It really is one of those books that you just sink into and enjoy the ride.

FS won't be the last in this series you read

I have to say this was a weird book for me, in fact, I kinda think it was a first. I am always going to be truthful about things and I have to admit that when the book first started I wasn’t a fan. The writing was good, but I really hated the entire apocalyptic setting. The MC, who pretty much lived out the embodiment of the name worm that was given to him by some raiders wasn’t someone I cared about. I actually hoped he’d die, and I actually thought that he would since he very clearly was not the dude on the book’s cover. I enjoy bleak, but I don’t enjoy weak or whiny and that was what worm was, he was a punk.
SO, I don’t want to hit you with spoilers, but I will say that the book makes for a huge change part way in, and the Worm turns. Yes, I went there. Worm then sort of becomes Noah, the guy he should have been all along. And in that instance the entire tone of the book shifts. Worm dries up in the sun and Noah takes his place. Noah is a take no BS kinda guy who sets about taking care of business. See, he can do things to prevent the events that created worm and crushed humanity in a punked out apocalypse from being quite so harsh because of a little thing called . . . ah, ah, spoilers. (Maybe add in the tardis sound just as a hint maybe let it run about 5 seconds). Anyway, Noah very calculatingly implements a 20 year plan to help prep and prepare for an invasion of alien beings called Aelves. No these guys are tougher, faste, and stronger than humans, they can perform magic, and they like to eat humans. So baddies all around. I have to say that it is the building aspect that I truly loved so much. The planning, the prep, the sacrifice, that is the stuff I am a sucker for and I loved it. My favorite part of the book was the scheming baby, you’ll know it when you get there. That was the best. And, when we finally return to the apocalypse I actually found myself looking forward to it. That was when the book really hit 3rd gear and started moving because I was admittedly in need of some action.
So, while the book might have started off a little slow with an unlikable character (for me, and I have to say I really don’t believe that we were ever supposed to LIKE Worm. Sympathize? Yeah, but not like.) He was cowardly and did some reprehensible stuff like going along with the slave trade. So, I really had no empathy for the dude, but once he transformed himself from a spineless wimp into a determined Noah I was cheering him on all the way.

The aelves seem to make some pretty good villains, and I highly anticipate more of them in book 2, because Noah has a bond with one of the higher ups that he is going to have to deal with at some point.

Corvin and Foster do an admirable job here tag teaming this piece of writing. I know I generally praise James Hunter for how well he meshes his writing with his partners so flawlessly, but I have to say that the pair here did a seamless job, and that I would be hard pressed to pick who did what or whose voice it was that we were really hearing. I honestly think that Corvin gave Foster his head, and allowed him just go crazy and if that is the case it was a wise move. It totally worked, and it is awesome to see a collaboration come together a well as this.

Ramon De Ocampo’s narration took me a little while t get used to, he was new to me, and I had to settle in and really listen, and I have to say that he grew on me the longer we went. I appreciated his voice, and the acting that he put into it. Everyone stood out as individual characters, and I never wondered who was speaking. The only thing I wish that he had done was to give the Aelves a distinctive accent. That would have really made them stand out to me, much in the way that all dwarves are Scottish sounding (even though I hate that trope). I kept going to Londo Mollari from Babylon Five, and how Peter Jurassic worked so hard to create a distinctive accent for his race, and then no other Centauri that appeared on the show ever used it. I would have really liked to have had something to say that it was an aelf speaking before I ever heard the character’s race mentioned. Otherwise, great job, and I look forward to more from him.

Overall, even though I was not a fan of the first part of the book just because I didn’t like Worm I think that it worked in making me hate him, because I liked him a lot by the end, and anticipated the Aelves attacking. Final score, 8.5.

If this review helped, please press the YES below. Thank you immensely!!!

As seen on the LITRPG AUDIOBOOK PODCAST, please check it out on Youtube.com

It takes a surprising turn

I was genuinely surprised by this book. At first I expected an admittedly well written, but by-the-books post apocalyptic adventure. Boy was I wrong.. Well, not about it being well written anyway. Starting with an unlikable character, dragging him through bad situations, and exposing every character flaw was a unique way to start off the book compared to others in the genre.

It made me wonder who I'm supposed to root for honestly. The likeable mentor that singlehandedly cracked our protagonists shell open was a good touch. I ended up liking him just as much as the main character, which in turn, made me identify with him in a way.

The book then takes a drastic, and completely unexpected turn that changed this book from your typical post apocalyptic romp backdropped by a revenge motivator, into 20 year plan, headed by one of the most determined guys I've ever heard. I'd prefer not to say exactly what it is, but you'll know it when you hear it. If you've ever read "A gift of time" you'll get it. Trust me when I say, it does not detract from the story at all.

The sheer amount of effort our boy goes through is staggering. It's an interesting ride the whole way through. I suggest giving this book a chance.

Great premise poor execution

The writer was not able to convey concepts, ideas, mood, characteristics through character actions, setting and instead just stated.

Wow

Really loved this book. Give it a chance if your looking for something new to listen to.

Great book!

I had been cursing audible for a while since I picked up a few litrpg books, and it just keep hounding that genre on to my suggested list, even though I hadn't really enjoyed them. This book however, was amazing! I'm so glad I took a chance on just one more! So many litrpg book have a main character that is super egotistical, and they get every little thing they want. Its like the authors are just writing out their dreams instead of telling a story. The main character in this book very likable, and very relatable. Somethings work out for him, and something don't, and I like that very much about this story.

Unreal yet oh so real!

OMG what a book! I enjoyed this book immensely! It made me cry and it gave me hope. At first I wanted to hate the MC for his cowardice but deep down I could not. I am not entirely certain how I would have responded give a similar circumstance. I think the real possibility of a similar situation improbable. Yet while I listened They made me believe it could. I wholeheartedly recommend this book. Well done Mr. Corbin and Mr. Foster.

Highly recommend

I wasn't 100% sure of this book when I was Downloading it But from the start It had me I will be recommending this everybody that Listen to me Can't wait for book 2

love this book

This I a great book the story is Solid and gets better the longer you Listen to it. I think it's one of the best stories I've listen to this year and cant wait till the next one is out thanks for the great book and work

what a change

forewarning I did not like the beginning until the thing what happens to him not going to say it the rest of the book what's great I want more can't wait I will say this has some fucked-up things what happened in the story and the character is definitely in the beginning unlikable but once the changeover does happen in the book you realize this book has promise

Honestly amazing.

I didn't expect that to be so good. I fell in love with this book around an hour in, but it was a wait that I could live with seeing how astonishing the rest of the book was. Not to say the start was bad, but I started to get into it around an hour in. I loved the book and need a second as fast as possible.

surprisingly good

I dont mean I expected it to be bad I have enjoyed all of Blaises books that I've read but this one to me seemed on another level. I assume that's because of the collaboration and perhaps increasing skill over time. this review is clumsy but whatever I really enjoyed this book if you like these kinds of books you know quality is all over the place this is one of the really good ones imo

An interesting read

Like it says in the title there are a few issue I would say I have with it is the slow drawn out start, but if you can stick with it your golden.

Now onto the characters themselves.... the main kind of sucks to be honest at least at the start he is whiny, annoying and hard not to hate but later on he actually become a decent person as opposed to a constant sad sack

excellent

I need book 2, excellent story, great concept im hoping for more and longer book next time 😀
narrator ok

Loved it

Please please let there b a follow up to this book, had me trapped from the beginning,😉👍👍👍

Awesome!

I'm pleasantly surprised with much I enjoyed this book, I genuinely feel it's almost if not as good as Ready Player One